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Authorities in Evansville said on Friday they found the video
on the phone of Michael Barnes, 19, who was arrested Thursday
after he agreed to sell a handgun to an undercover officer
through a transaction made on social media, Evansville police
said in a statement.
During what police called a "follow up investigation," officers
looking through Barnes' phone discovered the video of the
one-year-old baby putting a gun in her mouth. In the background,
two adults, identified as Barnes and the toddler's mother, Toni
Wilson, 22, encouraged the child to play with the weapon, police
said.
"Barnes can be heard telling the child to say "pow" on multiple
occasions while the child plays with the gun," police said. "The
video also shows the child placing the muzzle of the gun in her
mouth. At no point does Barnes try to stop the child from
playing with the gun," the statement said.
The child's mother told police that the firearm was a pellet
gun. Evansville police said the weapon was a .40 caliber
handgun.
Both Barnes and Wilson face multiple charges in the incident,
including child neglect and criminal recklessness with a deadly
weapon. Barnes also faces charges in connection with the
thwarted gun sale, police said.
The 12-month-old girl and one-month-old twins in the home were
placed in emergency care, police said.
Barnes and Wilson were in custody and not available for comment.
It was unclear if they had obtained attorneys or how they
intended to plead.
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere; editing by Andrew Hay)
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